Fire-preventing apparatus for motion-picture-projecting machines



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Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES .I,'618,417 PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LEWIS FEENEY AND HUMBERT- GODOY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS OF NINETY PER CENT TO JOSEPH E. COHEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, AND TEN PER CENT TO SAID FEENEY.

Application filed August 21, 1926. Serial No. 130,608.

Our invention relates to fire preventing apparatus for motion picture projecting machines. The hazard of setting fire to the film when it breaks'in its passage in the projector, is well known and much experimenting has been done to devise a way of eliminating this condition. many devices were introduced to put an end as far as we are aware, were found satisfactory.

The objects of ourinvention are to provide a simple arrangement of devices on a motion picture projecting vmachine, which will co-actwith the film when broken to effectobstruction of the powerful beam of light and thus prevent its intense heat waves from playing on and setting fire to the idle film; to electrically connect these dev ces 1n such manner as to effect stopping of the mowhich-- tor when the film breaks; to provide devices of such nature that theusual dowser is used for obstructing the beam of light and when moved from the light obstructing position, such as when starting the machine to project a film, the motor will be automatically started; and to provlde devices'which may be operated manually as well as electrically to bring the dowscr into light obstructing position and stop the motor.

' These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings 1n Figure 1 is a schematic view. of a motion picture projecting machine showing the elements which co-act" with our apparatus, illustrating an unbroken film with the beam of light passing therethrough,

Figure 2 a like view illustrating the film broken and the parts moved to another position to effect stopping of the motor and cutting off the light,

- device attached thereto,

Figure 3 a fragmentary face view of the lamp funnel showing the dowser operating Figure 4 an enlargedsection taken on line 4-4 of Figure3 with the lens funnel omitted and the dowser in a vertical or light obstructing position,

Figure 5 a section on with the dowser shown in the horizontal position,

As a result of this activity passes over an idler line 55 of'Figure 4.

Figure 6 a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4, the dowser being shown in a horizontal position,

Figure 7 an inner face view of one of'the film actuated arms which form a part of our invention,

Figure 8 a side view of the arm looking from the right of Figure 7,

Figure 9 a front view of another film actuated arm,

Figure 10 a side right of the arm shown in- Figure 9,

Figure 1.1 an enlarged section on line 11-11 of Figure 1,

Figure 12 a section substantially on line 1212 of Figure 11,

Figure 13 a fragmentary schematic view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified ar rangement of our apparatus,

Fig re 14 an enlarged section taken ,sub-i 5 being omitted for clearness,

stantiallv on lines i k-14 of Figure 13, certain of the parts Figure 15 a section on line ure 14,

Figure 16 an electrical diagram showing how the parts are connected, and Figure 17 a like view showing the electri- 15-15 of Figview looking from the c'al connections as made with the modified form of apparatus shown in'Figure 13.

We have shown our apparatus as applied to one type of motion picture projecting machine'but it may be applied equally well to other types without requiring material changes or departure from the principle upon which the apparatus functions.

Referring to the drawings, the type of projecting machine shown includes a magazine 1 from which a film 2 is fed by an upper film loops at- 4 and 5, then through a beam feed sprocket 3. The

of lightfi coming from a lamp 7,'then to an intermittent sprocket 8 which pulls the film intermittently through the beamof I light, and over a lower feed sprocket 9 to a, lower magazine 10. Loop loo-acts with one of the film actuated arms and the part 11 of the film co-acts with the other film actuated arm,

the film breaks. described.

The arm which co-acts with the loop 4 is in the form of a curved strip, 12 disposed in and swingably mounted on a loop guard 13 with the strip. When These arms will now be to effect movement of the arms when the film breaks, for example as shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the film will stop and loop 4 will become larger owing to the film being fed by the upper feed sprocket 3. As the loop becomes larger it will engage and move arm 12. This movement of the arm is transmitted to a switch which closes a circuit andelf'ects a cutting ofi of the light passing through the film and a stopping of the motor which operates the sprockets.

The other arm which co-acts with the roller 17 on the other end bearing against the film. \Vhen the film breaks and the part 11 of the The arms 12 and 15 maybe connected in various ways to the switch, for example they each arm has a fixed crank 18 (see Figures 7l0), and a crank pin 19, pivoted on the crank, has one end of a wire 20 adjustably connected thereto by a screw. The wire passes through a flexible tubing 21 secured in a bracket 22 integral with a base 23 integral with the bearing in which the arm s aft is mounted. other end of the tub ing is secured in a boss 24 of a casing 25 which encloses a switch 26. he wire-20 passes from tubing 21 into the casing and is connected for closing the switch 26 (see Fig ures 1.1 and 12). The switch has a stationary contact 27 mounted on an insulating casing back 28 and a movable contact 29 carried by a lever 30,'of electric. conducting material,

lcrumed at 31, in bearings 32 also of electric conducting material, secured to casing back 28. The stationary contact 27 has a terminal 33 and one of the bearings 32 has a terminal 34 for electrical connection to a cireither of the wires 20 bar 35, on the studs 36, secured against contact 27 by connected to an insulatin end of the lever, by threade on the end of the wires and the insulating bar, and nuts Vhen arms 12 and 15 are swung, owing to a broken film, their movement is transmitted noid 4-9 will ment with notch by the wires 20 to lever to close switch 26. The purpose of this type of connection between the arms and the switch, is to enable mounting the switch at a distance from the In Figure 13, we have omitted this type of connection and instead connected a switch 38, shown in detail in Figures 11 and 15, directly with each arm 12 and 15 adjacent the 'lm. Itach switch 38 includes a stationary contact 39 mounted in a casing -10, inovable contact Til mounted on a disk li'. fixed with the shaft of the arm. When either arm is swung, disk 42 will bring movable contact 11 into engagement with stationar contact 39 to close the switch. These switches are connected in parallel to common wires 43 and 41 which are connected in a circuit in the same manner as the terminals 33 and 31 of switch 26. In Figures 16 and 17, electrical diagrams show how terminals 33 and 34 of switch 26 and wires 4-3 and l" of switches 38 are connected.

In Figure 16, a motor circuit 45 includes a motor switch 46 and a motor 17. A solenoid circuit 48 is connected in parallel with motor 17 and includes a solenoid 19 and switch 26 WlllCll will hereinafter be called a solenoid \Vhen switch 26 is closed, a solebe energized which will effect an opening of motor switch 46 to stop the motor, and will cause a dowser to be swung in position to i through the film.

he dowser actuating device includes a casing 50, and having a dowser 52 fixed to its end outside of. the casing. The dowser has a light obstructing plate 53 on one end and a hana shaft 51 rockable in the casint of a latch 58. The other end 59 of the latch is connected with a plunger 60 of solenoid 4-9 which may beof any suitable construction.

notch 56 and release the dowser to swing by its weight downward to vertical or light obstructing position. The downward movement of the dowser "s limited by a stop 61 on collar 56, which comes into engagement with the end 57 on the latch. Upon swinging the dowser by handle 54 to the horizontal position, a cam 62 on collar 55, will engage and move the latch from the dot-and-dash line position, shown in Figure5, into engage- 56. To manually release the dowser to swing downwardly, a springpressed plunger 63 is slidably mounted in the sprockets are operated by a motor, (liagram- '1. engagement with contact plunger 60 to swing ment solenoid circuit 48 except electrical connections of the circuit 3, 8 and 9 .12 which in turn will" has its inner end engaging latch 58 and its outer end extending out of the casing and rovided with a push button 64. Upon pressing the push button the plunger will swing latch' from engagement witi notch 56.. 7

Motor switch 46 is opened as the dowser is swung downward to light obstructing position, and closed as the dowser is swung upward from the light obstructing position. This is effected by a cam 65 fixed with shaft 51, coming into engagement with and swinging an arm 66 agains the action of a spring 67. One contact 68 of motor switch 46 is mounted on and insulated from the end of arm 66 by suitable insulating bushings 69, and the other contact 7 0 is likewise secure to and insulated from a lug 71 extending casing and from casing 50. These contacts are connected by electric wires 72 and 73 which pass out of the casing through suitable insulating bushings.

In Figure 17, cal with the motor circuit shown in Figure 6 and the solenoid circuit is similar to the that the wire 43 connected with one side of switches 38, is connected with. solenoid 49, and a transformer 74 is connected in parallel with the motor and connected with the wire 44 and solenoid 49. This transformer is preferably interposed in .the solenoid circuit to stepdown the voltage to .reduce the possibility of sparking adjacent the film at switches 38. In" ll other respects the function and shown by-Figure 17 are similar to those of Figure 16 and similar reference characters have been applied to corresponding elements.

The operation of the machine is as followsz.

The film is fed from the upper magazine 1 to the lower magazine 10 by the sprockets through thebeam of light 6 which passes from lamp 7 through the film to project its images on the screen. The

matically' illustrated at 47 in any wel known manner. Should the film break, example at the point 7 5 below the beam of light, the part 76 of the film adjacent the broken end will stop in the light, while the film in the upper-magazine will be fedby the upper 'feedsprocket 3. This will'enlarge loop 4 and cause it to engage and swing arm pull wire 20 and 80 to bring its contact 29 into 27 and thus close the solenoid switch 26. Solenoid 49 will become energized and will draw in its latch 58 from engage- 56. q The dowser will then with notch swin the light as shown in Figure 2, thus preventing-burning of the film.

As the dowser the motor circuit is identithe one shown in for downward by'its weight to cut off swings into the lightobstructing position,

cam 65 engages and swings arm 66 to the 1 dot-and dash line position shown in Figure 6 to swing contact 68 from contact '70 and diagrammatithus open the motor switch cally illustrated at 46 in Figures 16 and 17. This will open the circuit and stop motor 47 before damage is done to the film by the moving parts of: the projector.

It is thus seen that upon the breaking of the film above the intermittent sprocket 8, loop 4 will become enlarged and'will engage and swing arm 12. This movement of the arm closes the solenoid switch 26- andeffects a release'ot the dowser to cut off the beam of light before it ignites the film, and also effects a stopping of the motor'before the film is damaged.

Should the film break below intermittent sprocket 8, loop 4 would not become enlarged but the broken end of the film passing to the lower magazine will, when it leaves the lower feed sprocket 9, produce slack in the part 11 of the film which will allow the weighted arm 15 to swing downward to the position shown in Figure 2. This will pull wire 20 and swing lever 30 to close switch 26. Upon the closing of the switch, dowser manner as before and the motor switch 46 will be opened to stop the motor.

When the switches 38 are used instead of the switch26, as shown in Figure'13, the operation of the dowser for cutting 0 light and effecting a stopping of the motor is identical with the operation just described. The only dilference between the function of the arrangement shown in Figure 13'and Figure 1 is that a swinging movement of either of-the arms 12 and 15 will cause its respective switch 38 to close. Upon the closing of either of these switches, the solenoid circuit in Figure 17 will be closed and solenoid 49 will become energized.

the

The switches 38 are closed by, the turning of the arm shaft to rotate disk 42 and bring its contact 41 against the contact 39 on the casing 40 of the switch. The co-action of the arms 12 and 15 to obtain 'movement when the film breaks-is similar to that deswitch and effect a starting of the motor.

The film will then be moved from the upper magazine to the lower magazine beam of light 6. When'the dowser is out o through the contact 7 O and thus close the motor I ner as before.

If for any reason the apparatus gets out of order the dowser is released by pressing on push button 64 to slide the plunger (33 into the casing and swing latch 58 from engagement with the notch in the same manner as swung by the solenoid 49, thus releasing the dowser to be swung by its weight to the light obstructing position. 7

It will be seen that the apparatus when installed on a motion picture projector ina manner above set forth, will eliminate the danger of the film becoming ignited when broken. The dowser will automatically stop the motor when released to swing to light obstructing position and will automatically startthe motor when swung fromthe light obstructing position after the broken film is repaired. The release of the dowser is effected by the closing of a switch which may be connected to the film actuated arms to effect such closing, in different ways to meet different requirements on the various types of motion picture projectors.

While we have described our invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1'.- In combination with a motion picture projector, its film, motor circuit and lamp; a support; a shaft rockable in the support; a dowser carried by the shaft and adapted to swing in front to obstruct the light of the lam tripping means connected with the sha t to hold the dowser out offthe way; a-

solenoid for tripping said means to release the dow'ser; electrical means for energizing the solenoid; film actuated mechanism con.

nected with the electrical means to effect energizationof the. solenoid when the film breaks; a cam on the shaft; an arm pivoted on the support to be engaged and moved by the cam, and a pair of switch contacts connected with the motor circuit, one contact being mounted on the support and the other on the arm whereby the motor circuit will be opened whenthe dowser swings to light 0bstructing position.

2. In combination with a motion picture projector, its film, motor circuit and lamp; a support; a shaft rockable in the support; a dowser carried by the shaft and adapted to swing in front to obstruct the light. of the lamp; a notched member on the shaft; a latch pivoted on the support to engage the notched member and hold the'dowser out Of the way; electrical means connected to disengage the latch to release the dowser; film actuated means connected with the electrical means to effect disengagement of the latch I when the film breaks, and a cam on the notched member adapted to engage and move the latch into engagement with the member when the dowser is swung from light obstructing position.

3. In combination with a motion picture projector, its film, motor circuit and lamp;

a support; a shaft rockable in the support;

a dowser carried by the shaft and adapted to swing in front to obstruct the light of l the lamp; a notched member on the shaft; a latch pivoted on the support to engage the notched member and acid the dowser out of the way; electrical means connected to disengage the latch to release the dowser;film actuated means connected with the electrical means to effect disengagement of the latch when the film breaks; a stop fixed to the shaft to engage the latch and limit the downward swing of the dowser, and a cam fixed to the shaft to engage and move the latch 'into' engagement with the notched member when the dowser is swung from light obstructing position.

4. In combination with a motion picture projector, its film, motor circuit and lamp; a support; a shaft rockable in the support; a dowser carried by the shaft and adapted to swing infront to obstruct the light of the lamp; a'notched member on the shaft; a latch pivoted on the supportto engage the member and hold the dowser out of the way;

electrical means for disengaging the latch 1 from the member to release the dowser; film actuated means connect-ed with the electrical means to effect disengagement of the latch when the film breaks, and a spring pressed plunger slidable in the support to disengage the latch from the member.

-l'n testimony whereof we have names to this specification.

THUR AS LElVlS FEENEY. HUMBEBT GQDOY.

signed our 

